Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
  • C09K8/00—Compositions for drilling of boreholes or wells; Compositions for treating boreholes or wells, e.g. for completion or for remedial operations
  • C09K8/52—Compositions for preventing, limiting or eliminating depositions, e.g. for cleaning
  • C09K8/524—Compositions for preventing, limiting or eliminating depositions, e.g. for cleaning organic depositions, e.g. paraffins or asphaltenes
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07C—ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
  • C07C235/00—Carboxylic acid amides, the carbon skeleton of the acid part being further substituted by oxygen atoms
  • C07C235/02—Carboxylic acid amides, the carbon skeleton of the acid part being further substituted by oxygen atoms having carbon atoms of carboxamide groups bound to acyclic carbon atoms and singly-bound oxygen atoms bound to the same carbon skeleton
  • C07C235/04—Carboxylic acid amides, the carbon skeleton of the acid part being further substituted by oxygen atoms having carbon atoms of carboxamide groups bound to acyclic carbon atoms and singly-bound oxygen atoms bound to the same carbon skeleton the carbon skeleton being acyclic and saturated
  • C07C235/10—Carboxylic acid amides, the carbon skeleton of the acid part being further substituted by oxygen atoms having carbon atoms of carboxamide groups bound to acyclic carbon atoms and singly-bound oxygen atoms bound to the same carbon skeleton the carbon skeleton being acyclic and saturated having the nitrogen atom of at least one of the carboxamide groups bound to an acyclic carbon atom of a hydrocarbon radical substituted by nitrogen atoms not being part of nitro or nitroso groups
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07C—ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
  • C07C237/00—Carboxylic acid amides, the carbon skeleton of the acid part being further substituted by amino groups
  • C07C237/02—Carboxylic acid amides, the carbon skeleton of the acid part being further substituted by amino groups having the carbon atoms of the carboxamide groups bound to acyclic carbon atoms of the carbon skeleton
  • C07C237/04—Carboxylic acid amides, the carbon skeleton of the acid part being further substituted by amino groups having the carbon atoms of the carboxamide groups bound to acyclic carbon atoms of the carbon skeleton the carbon skeleton being acyclic and saturated
  • C07C237/10—Carboxylic acid amides, the carbon skeleton of the acid part being further substituted by amino groups having the carbon atoms of the carboxamide groups bound to acyclic carbon atoms of the carbon skeleton the carbon skeleton being acyclic and saturated having the nitrogen atom of at least one of the carboxamide groups bound to an acyclic carbon atom of a hydrocarbon radical substituted by nitrogen atoms not being part of nitro or nitroso groups
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07C—ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
  • C07C69/00—Esters of carboxylic acids; Esters of carbonic or haloformic acids
  • C07C69/66—Esters of carboxylic acids having esterified carboxylic groups bound to acyclic carbon atoms and having any of the groups OH, O—metal, —CHO, keto, ether, acyloxy, groups, groups, or in the acid moiety
  • C07C69/67—Esters of carboxylic acids having esterified carboxylic groups bound to acyclic carbon atoms and having any of the groups OH, O—metal, —CHO, keto, ether, acyloxy, groups, groups, or in the acid moiety of saturated acids
  • C07C69/675—Esters of carboxylic acids having esterified carboxylic groups bound to acyclic carbon atoms and having any of the groups OH, O—metal, —CHO, keto, ether, acyloxy, groups, groups, or in the acid moiety of saturated acids of saturated hydroxy-carboxylic acids
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07D—HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
  • C07D223/00—Heterocyclic compounds containing seven-membered rings having one nitrogen atom as the only ring hetero atom
  • C07D223/02—Heterocyclic compounds containing seven-membered rings having one nitrogen atom as the only ring hetero atom not condensed with other rings
  • C07D223/04—Heterocyclic compounds containing seven-membered rings having one nitrogen atom as the only ring hetero atom not condensed with other rings with only hydrogen atoms, halogen atoms, hydrocarbon or substituted hydrocarbon radicals, directly attached to ring carbon atoms
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
  • C09K8/00—Compositions for drilling of boreholes or wells; Compositions for treating boreholes or wells, e.g. for completion or for remedial operations
  • C09K8/52—Compositions for preventing, limiting or eliminating depositions, e.g. for cleaning
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
  • C10L—FUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NATURAL GAS; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C10G, C10K; LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS; ADDING MATERIALS TO FUELS OR FIRES TO REDUCE SMOKE OR UNDESIRABLE DEPOSITS OR TO FACILITATE SOOT REMOVAL; FIRELIGHTERS
  • C10L3/00—Gaseous fuels; Natural gas; Synthetic natural gas obtained by processes not covered by subclass C10G, C10K; Liquefied petroleum gas
  • C10L3/06—Natural gas; Synthetic natural gas obtained by processes not covered by C10G, C10K3/02 or C10K3/04
  • C10L3/10—Working-up natural gas or synthetic natural gas
  • C10L3/107—Limiting or prohibiting hydrate formation
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
  • C09K2208/00—Aspects relating to compositions of drilling or well treatment fluids
  • C09K2208/22—Hydrates inhibition by using well treatment fluids containing inhibitors of hydrate formers
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
  • C10L—FUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NATURAL GAS; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C10G, C10K; LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS; ADDING MATERIALS TO FUELS OR FIRES TO REDUCE SMOKE OR UNDESIRABLE DEPOSITS OR TO FACILITATE SOOT REMOVAL; FIRELIGHTERS
  • C10L2290/00—Fuel preparation or upgrading, processes or apparatus therefore, comprising specific process steps or apparatus units
  • C10L2290/14—Injection, e.g. in a reactor or a fuel stream during fuel production
  • C10L2290/141—Injection, e.g. in a reactor or a fuel stream during fuel production of additive or catalyst

Definitions

• the application is directed at inhibiting or preventing the formation of natural gas hydrate agglomerates.
• “Natural gas hydrates” is a term referring to ice-like solids that are formed from gas molecules and water dissolved within liquid petroleum products (liquid hydrocarbons) when the temperature of the liquid is lowered and/or pressure upon the liquid is increased. Under these conditions, water molecules can form cage-like structures around gas molecules such as carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, methane, ethane, propane, butane and iso-butane, creating crystalline clathrate structures, also termed a“clathrate gas hydrates.”
• the specific architecture of a cage structure can be one of several types (called type 1, type 2, type H), depending on the identity of the guest molecule(s).
• Petroleum liquid recovery and production commonly operate under high pumping speed and high pressure within processing and transportation pipelines, conditions particularly favorable for natural gas hydrate formation. Additionally, weather conditions in some field locations can cause a substantial drop in temperature during one or more production, transportation, and storage operations carried out during and after recovery of liquids obtained from subterranean reservoirs.
• natural gas hydrate inhibitors include thermodynamic gas hydrate inhibitors (THI), anti-agglomerant gas hydrate inhibitors (AAs), and kinetic gas hydrate inhibitors (KHIs).
• THIs thermodynamic gas hydrate inhibitors
• AAs anti-agglomerant gas hydrate inhibitors
• KHIs kinetic gas hydrate inhibitors
• THIs are substances that can reduce the temperature at which the gas hydrates form at a given pressure and water content, and are typically dosed at 50% based on water content and as high as 100% of the volume of water. Therefore, there is a substantial cost associated with the transportation and storage of large quantities of these inhibitors.
• LDHIs low dosage gas hydrate inhibitors
• KHIs and anti-agglomerants typically are used at much lower concentrations.
• KHIs work by delaying the growth of gas hydrate crystals. They also function as anti- nucleators.
• AAs allow natural gas hydrates to form but prevent them from agglomerating and subsequently accumulating into larger masses capable of causing plugs.
• AAs function to keep natural gas hydrate crystals and agglomerates dispersed as a slurry within the liquid hydrocarbon.
• compositions and methods for inhibiting the formation of natural gas hydrate agglomerates in a fluid comprising water, gaseous molecules, and a liquid hydrocarbon are described herein.
• composition comprising at least one alkyl lactone- derived hydroxyamide or alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyester to inhibit formation of natural gas hydrate agglomerates, the at least one alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamide formed by a reaction between an alkyl lactone with an amine, and the alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyester formed by a reaction between an alkyl lactone with an alcohol.
• composition comprising:
• alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamide or alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyester the alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamide or alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyester.
• in yet another aspect of the invention is a method of inhibiting formation of agglomerates of natural gas hydrates comprising: introducing into a fluid a composition comprising at least one alkyl lactone- derived hydroxyamide or alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyester to inhibit formation of agglomerates of natural gas hydrates, the at least one alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamide formed by a reaction between an alkyl lactone with an amine, and the alkyl lactone- derived hydroxyester formed by a reaction between an alkyl lactone with an alcohol.
• compositions and methods are suitable for use in aquatic environments as they have lower toxicities.
• FIG. l is a graphical representation of cell pressure as a function of run time for a formulation of an embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 2 is a graphical representation of cell pressure as a function of run time for a formulation of of an embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 3 is a graphical representation of cell pressure as a function of run time for a formulation of of an embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 4 is a graphical representation of cell pressure as a function of run time for a formulation of of an embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 5 is a graphical representation of cell pressure as a function of run time for a blank formulation.
• alkyl refers to a monovalent group derived by the removal of a single hydrogen atom from a straight or branched chain or cyclic saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon containing from one to sixty carbon atoms.
• anti-agglomerant or“ AA” refers to a compound that inhibits formation of agglomerates of natural gas hydrates.
• the term will be understood to refer to the AA itself or in a composition which may include other AAs or compounds or solvents, as determined by context.
• fluid means liquid, gas molecules, or both in an oil or natural gas well production operation.
• the term“inhibits,”“inhibiting,” or grammatical equivalents thereof refers to preventing, retarding, mitigating, reducing, controlling and/or delaying formation of gas hydrates and/or agglomerates of gas hydrates, and/or equipment/pipeline plugs formed from gas hydrate agglomerates.
• the terms“natural gas hydrates” or“gas hydrates” refers to a gaseous mixture in a water clathrate.
• the terms“comprise(s),”“include(s),”“having,”“has,”“can,” “contain(s),” and variants thereof are intended to be open-ended transitional phrases, terms, or words that do not preclude the possibility of additional acts or structures.
• the singular forms“a,”“and” and“the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
• the present disclosure also contemplates other embodiments“comprising,” “consisting of and“consisting essentially of,” the embodiments or elements presented herein, whether explicitly set forth or not.
• the term“optional” or“optionally” means that the subsequently described event or circumstance may but need not occur, and that the description includes instances where the event or circumstance occurs and instances in which it does not.
• the term“about” modifying, for example, the quantity of an ingredient in a composition, concentration, volume, process temperature, process time, yield, flow rate, pressure, and like values, and ranges thereof, employed in describing the embodiments of the disclosure, refers to variation in the numerical quantity that can occur, for example, through typical measuring and handling procedures used for making
• the term“about” also encompasses amounts that differ due to aging of a formulation with a particular initial concentration or mixture, and amounts that differ due to mixing or processing a formulation with a particular initial concentration or mixture. Where modified by the term“about” the claims appended hereto include equivalents to these quantities. Further, where“about” is employed to describe a range of values, for example“about 1 to 5” the recitation means“1 to 5” and“about 1 to about 5” and“1 to about 5” and“about 1 to 5” unless specifically limited by context.
• the term“substantially” means“consisting essentially of’ and includes“consisting of’“consisting essentially of’ is construed as in U.S. patent law, and “consisting of’ is construed as in U.S. patent law.
• “substantially free” of a specified compound or material may be free of that compound or material, or may have a minor amount of that compound or material present, such as through unintended contamination, side reactions, or incomplete purification.
• A“minor amount” may be a trace, an unmeasurable amount, an amount that does not interfere with a value or property, or some other amount as provided in context.
• a composition that has“substantially only” a provided list of components may consist of only those components, or have a trace amount of some other component present, or have one or more additional components that do not materially affect the properties of the composition.
• substantially modifying, for example, the type or quantity of an ingredient in a composition, a property, a measurable quantity, a method, a value, or a range, employed in describing the embodiments of the disclosure, refers to a variation that does not affect the overall recited composition, property, quantity, method, value, or range thereof in a manner that negates an intended composition, property, quantity, method, value, or range.
• the claims appended hereto include equivalents according to this definition.
• any recited ranges of values contemplate all values within the range and are to be construed as support for claims reciting any sub-ranges having endpoints which are real number values within the recited range.
• a disclosure in this specification of a range of from 1 to 5 shall be considered to support claims to any of the following ranges: 1-5; 1-4; 1-3; 1-2; 2-5; 2-4; 2-3; 3-5; 3-4; and 4-5.
• compositions and methods to inhibit formation of agglomerates of natural gas hydrates, and/or plugs formed from natural gas hydrate agglomerates within liquid hydrocarbon recovery, processing, transportation, and storage operations may be applied to one or more liquid hydrocarbon products to inhibit plugging of annular spaces, such as pipes, transfer lines, valves, and the like, including equipment downhole where the conditions are conducive for the formation of gas hydrates.
• the compounds used in the compositions and methods for inhibiting gas hydrate agglomerates are alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamides and alkyl lactone derived- hydroxy esters.
• the compounds are formed by the reaction of alkyl lactones and amines, or alkyl lactones and alcohols.
• alkyl lactone-derived compounds have the general formula shown below as formula I,
• R 1 any fatty tail derived from 1-30 carbon saturated or unsaturated alkyl group or a ring structure including cyclohexyl, cyclopentyl, phenyl, benzyl, or variants thereof;
• R 2 is H or any 1-10 carbon saturated or unsaturated alkyl group or a ring structure which would link to R 3 ;
• R 3 H or any 1-10 carbon saturated or unsaturated alkyl group or a ring structure which would link to R 2 , e.g. pyrrolidine or azepane, and the like.
• alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamide is shown below as formula II, III and IV, with the various groups as previously described.
• R 1 any fatty tail including C1-C30 saturated or unsaturated alkyl group or a ring structure including cyclohexyl, cyclopentyl, phenyl, benzyl, or variants thereof;
• R 2 H or any C1-C10 saturated or unsaturated alkyl group or being a ring structure which would link to R 3 ;
• R 3 H or any C1-C10 saturated or unsaturated alkyl group or being a ring structure which would link to R 2 , e.g. pyrrolidine or azepane, and the like.
• R 2 and R 3 are individually selected from isopropyl, butyl, pentyl, isobutyl or isopentyl groups.
• R 2 and R 3 individually may include one or more aminopropylamine chains such as dibutylaminopropylamine (DB APA) or a DBAPA with additional aminopropylamine referred herein as an extended DBAPA.
• DB APA dibutylaminopropylamine
• R 2 R 3 .
• R 2 and R 3 are individually derived from the following amines:
• the alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamides include one or more of the following structures or a combination thereof:
• Any suitable method may be used to synthesize the alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamides.
• the synthesis of the alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamides is not limited by the described processes.
• the alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamides are obtained by reacting alkyl lactones with amines as shown below, wherein R 1 is an alkyl moiety and R 2 and R 3 are selected from H or an alkyl group, with the proviso that only one of R 2 and R 3 may be H.
• the alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamide is formed by reacting the alkyl lactone, which is a g-undecalactone and an amine, which is dibutylaminopropylamine.
• the resultant alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamide is followed by acidification with acetic acid:
• the alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamide is the reaction product of g- undecalactone with dibutylamine:
• the alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamide is a reaction product of an alkyl lactone with dibutylamine, dibutylaminopropylamine, or a dibutylaminopropylamine with an additional aminopropylamine (extended DBAPA).
• the alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamides are reaction products as shown below:
• the compositions and methods useful for inhibiting gas hydrates and agglomerates of gas hydrates is an alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyester.
• the alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyester is a reaction product of an alkyl lactone with an alcohol, and as shown below, wherein R 1 is an alkyl moiety (as described above), and R 2 is an alkyl group.
• the alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyester is the reaction product of g- undecalactone reacted with dibutylaminoethanol, followed by acidification to form the ammonium salt of the tertiary amino moiety:
• the hydroxyl of the alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyester or alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamide can be further modified.
• the resultant hydroxyl is modified by displacing the hydrogen of the hydroxyl to form an O-bonded moiety.
• Suitable O-bonded moieties include ether, carboxylic acid, silyl ether, and the like.
• suitable O-bonded moieties are shown below, wherein R 1 is as described previously, and R 4 is alkyl, silyl, carboxyl, and the like.
• the O-bonded moiety is the reaction product of the alkyl lactone- derived hydroxyamide or alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyester with maleic anhydride or other anhydride moiety.
• the alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamide (which is a reaction between g-undecalactone with dibutylaminopropylamine) is further reacted with maleic anhydride as follows:
• the ether is formed from the alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamide by reacting with a bromide.
• the alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamide is formed by reacting g-undecalactone with DBAPA. The resultant alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamide is further reacted with n-butyl bromide to yield a corresponding ether as follows:
• the resultant hydroxyl of the alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamide is modified by oxidation to a ketone.
• oxidation to a ketone is as shown below, wherein R 1 is as described above, and the newly formed ketone can be left as- is or further reacted with amines (Schiff base formation, reductive amination, and the like), or reacted via aldol reactions, Mannich reactions, and the like.
• the oxidation can be with yridinium chlorochromate (PCC) to yield a ketone as shown below:
• the resultant alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamide and alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyester result from reactions with alkyl lactones.
• the alkyl lactones have at least two carbon atoms in the lactone ring. In embodiments, the lactones are from 2 30 or 5-20 carbon atoms.
• the alkyl lactones are gamma-alkyl lactones and delta-alkyl lactones. In embodiments, the alkyl lactones are beta, epsilon, or larger variants such as omega-alkyl lactones (for example w-pentadecalactone).
• the variability in the alkyl moiety are at the gamma or delta carbon, but can occur along the alpha, beta, gamma, delta, or epsilon position along the lactone ring, in multiple locations and chiralities.
• the alkyl chain is a straight chain alkyl having 1-30 carbon straight or branched chain alkyl. In other embodiments, the alkyl chain is a branching, unsaturation or additional functionality.
• unsubstituted alkyl groups include methyl, ethyl, n- propyl, i-propyl, n-butyl, i-butyl, s-butyl, t-butyl, n-pentyl, i-pentyl, s-pentyl, t-pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, lauryl, and the like.
• the alkyl lactones are either synthetic or natural.
• the synthetic lactones can be produced from fatty acids plus acrylic acid and peroxide.
• the lactones are naturally produced, where they are commonly used as food additives or flavor/fragrance molecules.
• natural lactones include cis-3-methyl-4-octanolide (whisky lactone), massoia lactone (6-Pentyl-5,6-dihydropyran- 2-one), 5-(cis-3-Hexenyl)dihydro-5-methyl-2(3H)furanone, 4-methyldeca-4-lactone, angelica lactone and the like.
• lactones for example from Sigma Aldrich include 4-methyldeca-4-lactone, whisky lactone, omega-pentadecalactone, and 6-pentyl- 5,6-dihydropyran-2-massoia lactone.
• Any suitable amine may be used to react with the alkyl lactone to result in the described alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamide.
• the amine may be characterized by the presence of at least one primary, secondary or tertiary amino group.
• the amine is a monoamine, diamine or polyamine.
• monoamines include ethylamine, dimethylamine, diethylamine, n- butylamine, dibutylamine, allylamine, isobutylamine, cocoamine, stearylamine, laurylamine, methyllaurylamine, oleylamine, N-methyl-octylamine, dodecyl- amine, diethanolamine, morpholine, and octadecyl amine.
• the amines are diamines, which can include aliphatic diamines, branched aliphatic diamines, cyclic diamines.
• the polyamines have the formula [R 5 -NH-R 6 ], wherein R 5 and R 6 are a H or an alkyl group.
• the amine is a dibutylaminopropylenediamine:
• the amine is a dibutylaminopropylenediamine with an additional aminopropylamine:
• polyalkylene polyamines of about 2 to 60, 2 to 40, 3 to 20 total carbon atoms and about 1 to 12, 3 to 12, 5 to 9 nitrogen atoms in the molecule.
• amines are hydrocarbyl amines or hydrocarbyl amines including other groups, e.g., hydroxy groups, alkoxy groups, amide groups, nitriles, imidazoline groups, and the like. Hydroxy amines with 1 to 6 hydroxy groups or 1 to 3 hydroxy groups are useful.
• amines are aliphatic saturated amines, including those of the general formulas:
• R, R’, R” and R’ are independently selected from a group of hydrogen; 1 to 25 carbon straight or branched chain alkyl radicals; 1 to 12 carbon alkoxy, 2 to 6 carbon alkylene radicals; 2 to 12 carbon hydroxy amino alkylene radicals; and 1 to 12 carbon alkylamino, 2 to 6 carbon alkylene radicals; and wherein R’” can additionally comprise a moiety of the formula:
• R’ is as defined above, and wherein s and s’ can be the same or a different number of from 2 to 6, 2 to 4; and t and t’ can be the same or different and are numbers of from 0 to 10, 2 to 7, or about 3 to 7, with the proviso that the sum of t and t’ is not greater than 15.
• exemplary amine compounds include: l,2-diaminoethane; 1,3- diaminopropane; l,4-diaminobutane; l,6-diaminohexane: polyethylene amines such as diethylene triamine; triethylene tetramine; tetraethylene pentamine; polypropylene amines such as 1, 2-propylene diamine; di-(l, 2-propyl ene)triamine; di-( 1,3 -propylene) triamine; N,N-dimethyl-l,3-diaminopropane; N,N-di-(2-aminoethyl) ethylene diamine; N, N -d i(2 - hydroxyethy 1) -1,3 -propylene diamine; 3-dodecyloxypropylamine; N-dodecyl-l,3- propane diamine; tris hydroxymethylaminome
• diethanol amine triethanol amine
• mono-, di-, and tri-tallow amines amino morpholines such as N-(3-aminopropyl)morpholine; and mixtures thereof.
• any suitable alcohol may be used to react the alkyl lactone to result in the disclosed alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyester.
• alcohols having the formula: OH-R 7 are used, wherein R 7 is an alkyl, aryl or alkaryl hydrocarbyl group having from one to twenty carbons, and wherein R 7 may be C1-C20 unsubstituted or substituted alkyl, C2-C20 unsubstituted or substituted alkenyl, C2-C20 unsubstituted or substituted alkynyl, C3-C20 unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkyl, C3-C20 unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkyl containing at least one heteroatom, C6-C20 unsubstituted or substituted aryl, C6-C20 unsubstituted or substituted aryl containing at least one heteroatom, C7-C20 unsubstituted or substituted alkaryl,
• the alcohols are methanol, ethanol, propanol, i-propanol, n-butanol, i-butanol, t-butanol, n-octanol, hexanol, cyclohexanol and benzyl alcohol or combinations thereof.
• the alcohol is an amino alcohol.
• Amino alcohols include the 2,2- disubstituted-2-amino-l-alkanols having from two to three hydroxy groups and containing a total of 4 to 8 carbon atoms. This amino alcohol can be represented by the formula:
• X is an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group with the alkyl groups having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms wherein at least one, and preferably both, of the X substituents is a
• the alcohols are amino alcohols.
• amino alcohols include 2-amino-2-methyl-l,3 propanediol, 2-amino-2-ethyl-l, 3 -propanediol, and 2-amino-2- (hydroxymethyl)l, 3 -propanediol, (THAM or tris (hydroxymethyl) amino methane).
• the alcohol is a dibutylaminoethanol, diethylaminoethanol,
• dipropylaminoethanol diisopropyl, diisobutyl, diisopentyl, dipentyl and diisohexyl/dihexyl.
• the acidification step is of a secondary or tertiary amine.
• the acidification is generally achieved through the addition of an organic acid.
• organic acids include acetic acid or acrylic acid.
• the acrylic acid reactions with any residual primary or secondary amines (reversibly with tertiary amines) to yield a carboxybetaine structure.
• Other organic acids may be used for this acidification, including pivalic acid, malic acid, maleic acid, succinic acid, and any Cl -Cl 2+ carboxylic acids.
• Inorganic acids can also be used, such as common mineral acids
• compositions and methods described herein are used to inhibit formation of agglomerates of gas hydrates, and plugging during liquid hydrocarbon production and transportation.
• compositions comprise, consist of or consist essentially of at least one of the described alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamides or alkyl lactone-derived hydroxy esters.
• the composition can further comprise one or more thermodynamic gas hydrate inhibitors, one or more kinetic gas hydrate inhibitors, one or more other AAs, or any combination thereof.
• the composition can include other additives such as one or more asphaltene inhibitors, paraffin inhibitors, corrosion inhibitors, scale inhibitors, demulsifies, water clarifiers, dispersants, emulsion breakers, or any combination thereof.
• compositions include the disclosed alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamides or alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyesters with one or more corrosion inhibitors as disclosed in U.S. Provisional Application
• composition comprising the alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamides or alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyesters is prepared or formulated in one or more solvents, depending upon the application and requirements.
• suitable solvents for formulation with the alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamide or alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyester composition include water, brine, seawater, alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, n-propanol, n-butanol, isobutanol, sec-butanol, t-butanol or higher alcohols such as benzyl alcohol); ketones such as acetone, or methyl ethyl ketone (2-butanone); acetonitrile; esters such as ethyl acetate, propyl acetate and butyl acetate; ethers such as diethyl ether or higher, e.g.
• methyl t-butyl ether glyme, diglyme, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, ethylene diglycol ethyl ether, 1,4 dioxane and related glycols; aromatics such as toluene, xylene(s),
• di ethylbenzene, naphthalene and related aromatics or refinery cuts (heavy aromatic naptha, heavy aromatic distillates, and related); aliphatics such as pentane, hexane, heptane, octane, or refined gasoline; or several“green” solvents such as 2-methyltetrahydrofuran, furfural alcohol, and cyclopentylmethylether.
• solvents suitable for formulation with the alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamide or alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyester include aliphatics, such as pentane, hexane, cyclohexane, methylcyclohexane, heptane, decane, dodecane, diesel, and the like, and aromatics, such as toluene, xylene, heavy aromatic naphtha, fatty acid derivatives (acids, esters, amides), and the like.
• the alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamide or alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyester is formulated in a composition with an amount from about 1-80 w/v%. In embodiments, the alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamide or alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyester is added in an amount from about 1-10 w/v%, 10-20 w/v%, 20-60 w/v%, 45-60 w/v%, 60-80 w/v%, or 1-60 w/v%.
• the composition comprising the alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamide or alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyester is used in a method of inhibiting the formation of natural gas hydrate agglomerants.
• the method comprises adding to a fluid an amount of a composition comprising one or more alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamides or alkyl lactone- derived hydroxyesters.
• the fluid comprises water, gas molecules, and liquid hydrocarbon.
• An exemplary application point for the petroleum liquid production operations is near the surface controlled sub-sea safety valve.
• application or introduction of the hydroxyamids or hydroxyesters is into a downhole. This ensures that during a shut-in, the composition is able to disperse throughout the area where natural gas hydrates will occur.
• the alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamide or alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyester may be formulated with a solvent having a density high enough that the alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamide or alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyester will sink in the flowline to collect at the water/oil interface.
• application is also used in pipelines or anywhere in the system where the potential for agglomerates of gas hydrate formation exists.
• hydroxyamide or alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyester or compositions containing them are introduced to the fluid to inhibit the formation of gas hydrate agglomerants.
• One of ordinary skill in the art is able to calculate the amount of a composition comprising the alkyl lactone- derived hydroxyamide or alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyester for a given situation without undue experimentation. Factors that would be considered important in such calculations include, for example, content of fluid, percentage water cut, API gravity of hydrocarbon.
• the alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamide or alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyester alone or in a composition is introduced into a fluid to be treated from about 1000 ppm to about 50,000 ppm, from about 2000 ppm to about 15,000 ppm, or 3000 ppm to 20,000 ppm.
• compositions and methods are useful for inhibiting gas hydrate agglomerate formation for many hydrocarbons and hydrocarbon mixtures.
• the compositions are particularly useful for lighter or low-boiling, 1-5 carbon containing hydrocarbon gases or gas mixtures at ambient conditions.
• the gases are methane, ethane, propane, n- butane, isobutane, isopentane, and mixtures thereof.
• natural gas mixtures are present in many gas and/or oil formations and natural gas liquids.
• the hydrocarbons may also comprise other compounds including, but not limited to, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and other compounds commonly found in gas/oil formations or processing plants, either naturally occurring and/or used in recovering/processing
• hydrocarbons from the formation and mixtures thereof.
• compositions and methods are useful for inhibiting gas hydrate formation in a variety of black oils, heavy black oils to condensates, from API 20-50.
• compositions and methods are useful for inhibiting gas hydrate formation in paraffinic or asphaltenic oils.
• paraffin or asphaltene inhibitors are used in conjunction with the alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamide or alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyester.
• the composition comprising the alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamide or alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyester is applied to fluids that containing various levels of oil, brine or both having various levels of salinity.
• the fluid has a salinity of about 0.1% to about 25% or about 10% to about 25% weight/weight (w/w).
• the composition comprising the alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamide or alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyester is applied to a fluid that contains various levels of water cut.
• water cut refers to the percent of water in a composition containing an oil and water mixture.
• the water cut is from about 1% to about 80% w/w with respect to the hydrocarbon phase.
• the water cut is from about 1% to about 30% w/w, from about 5% to about 40% w/w, from about 10% to about 60% w/w, from about 15% to about 80% w/w with respect to the hydrocarbon phase.
• the methods can be used at any pressure that results in hydrocarbon gas hydrates.
• the pressure is usually at or greater than atmospheric pressure (e.g., about 101 kPa), greater than about 1 MPa, or greater than about 5 MPa.
• the pressure in certain formation or processing units or plants could be much higher, such as greater than about 20 MPa. There is no specific high-pressure limit.
• the composition comprising the alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamide or alkyl lactone- derived hydroxyester may be introduced by any method suitable for ensuring dispersal of the alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamide or alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyester through the liquid being treated.
• the alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamide or alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyester may be injected prior to substantial formation of gas hydrates.
• the alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamide or alkyl lactone- derived hydroxyester is introduced into fluid contained in an oil and gas pipeline.
• the alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamide or alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyester is added to fluid contained in refineries, such as separation vessels, dehydration units, gas lines, and pipelines.
• the alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamide or alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyester compositions are introduced into a fluid using various well- known methods and they may be introduced at numerous, different locations throughout a given system.
• the composition comprising the one or more alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamide or alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyester is injected using mechanical equipment such as chemical injection pumps, piping tees, injection fittings, and the like.
• the alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamide or alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyester are mixed or blended with mechanical mixing equipment or devices, stationary mixing setup or equipment, magnetic mixing or other suitable methods, to provide adequate contact and/or dispersion of the composition into the mixture.
• the introducing of the alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamide or alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyester can be made in-line and/or offline.
• the various components of the composition may be mixed prior to and/or during introduction.
• One of skill will understand that the methods disclosed herein are not limited in any way by the timing or location of the introducing.
• the alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamide or alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyesters have increased biodegradation, lower toxicity, lower bioaccumulation or combination thereof. In embodiments, the alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamide or alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyesters have a biodegradation of greater than 10%, greater than 20%, greater than 30%, greater than 40%, greater than 50% or greater than 60% when measured in a 28 day degradation test.
• the alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamide or alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyesters have reduced toxicity as measured in a 48 hour acute toxicity test with Daphnia magna of greater than or equal to 10 mg/ml.
• the alkyl lactone- derived hydroxyamide or alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyester has a 48-hour EC 5 o value with Daphnia magna from about 10-100 mg/ml, 10-20 mg/ml, 15-25 mg/ml, 20-35 mg/ml, 30-40 mg/ml, 35-50 mg/ml, 40-60 mg/ml, 50-80 mg/ml, 60-90 mg/ml, or 70-100 mg/ml. Examples
• Teflon top vial was weighed 5.0 g of d-undecalactone and 4.94 g of dibutylaminopropylamine (1 eq). A stir bar was added and the vial was set to stir at 40 °C for 2 hours. A thickening of the contents was observed, and the temperature of the vial was increased to 70 °C and allowed to stir for 24 hours. The contents were allowed to return to room temperature and 0.972 g acetic acid (1.0 eq) was added. Finally, the contents were diluted to 50 wt% active in xylene.
• the rocking cell includes a rack on which individual cells are placed.
• Each individual cell includes a sapphire tubing containing a stainless steel ball inside the sapphire tubing.
• the stainless steel ball induces turbulence and mixes the liquids during the rocking process.
• the sapphire tubing can also withstand pressures up to about 5,000 psi.
• the compositions include a hydrocarbon, an aqueous phase, a gas and the alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamide to be tested.
• the aqueous phase used was a brine of about 4% salinity and a water content of 25 % of the composition.
• Various crude oils such as black oil, heavy black oil and condenstate were tested.
• WDDM synthetic gas (-85% methane synthetic blend, which is a Type II gas hydrate forming gas blend) was used to pressurize the cells at the appropriate pressure. 2500 psi for the black oil and and heavy black oil conditions, and 2000 psi for condensate.
• test compositions were then equilibrated to a temperature of about 29° C, while rocking for 30 minutes.
• the test is a constant pressure test where the cells are left open to a booster that boosts additional gas into the cells as gas was solubilized into the liquids and/or formed gas hydrates.
• the cells were rocked for about 30 minutes to equilibrate and mix prior to stopping at a horizontal position (shut-in).
• the shut-in phase the cells were cooled down to about 4.4°C over approximately four hours and when the cells reached 4.4°C, they were rocked for an additional eight hours at 4.4°C. After a shut-in time of about 8 hours, the rocking of the cells was restarted for two hours. After two hours the cells were visually observed and ranked as pass/fail.
• the pass/fail criteria were based on the ability of the ball in the rocking cell to move within the sapphire tube. For example, an alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamide tested was considered effective and passed the rocking cell test if at the time of the ranking, the ball moved freely when the cell was rocked indicating that few agglomerates were formed. In contrast, the alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamide failed if the ball’s movement was obstructed or completely stopped by the formation of gas hydrate agglomerates.
• the anti agglomerate’s performance was considered borderline when there was observable gas hydrate agglomerates and at least some of the agglomerates stuck to the walls of the sapphire tube; when these agglomerates were present and the movement of the ball was not restricted, the alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamide ranking was considered borderline pass.
• Figure 1 shows the results as passing the rocking cell test when tested with an alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamide (which is a reaction product with g-undecalactone and dibutylaminopropylamine) dosed at 3% with 25% water cut and 4% salinity in black oil.
• alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamide which is a reaction product with g-undecalactone and dibutylaminopropylamine
• Figure 2 shows the results as passing the rocking cell test when the alkyl lactone- derived hydroxyamide tested (reaction between d-undecalactone and
• dibutylaminopropylamine dosed at 3% with 25% water cut and 4% salinity in black oil.
• Figure 3 shows the results as passing the rocking cell test when the alkyl lactone- derived hydroxyamide tested (reaction between d-tetradecalactone and
• dibutylaminopropylamine dosed at 3% with 25% water cut and 4% salinity in black oil.
• Figure 4 shows that the results with g-undecalactone/DBAPA dosed at 3% with 25% water cut and 4% salinity in black oil.
• the results show that the alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamide or alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyester failed the criteria as indicated by the maximized ball fall time (red trace) indicating a blockage on the side of the cell.
• Figure 5 shows a blank with 25% water cut and 4% salinity in black oil. The results show that the system fails upon cool down as indicated by the maximized ball fall time (red trace) indicating a blockage on the side of the cell.

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